Calibrated ventilator adjustment for incubators



Julge 23, 1931. B. F. c. MORRIS 1,811,589

CALIBRATED VENTILATQR ADJUSTMENT FOR INGUBATORS 'Filed June 28, 1927 '-1* l 47 4.0 6 26 36W? y? m 5@ (fmg- Patented June 23, 1931 "UNITED-f STATES' BENJAMIN F. c. Monnrs, or; oKLAHoMA CITY, `iizinarroMn PATENT OFFICE cALIVBnA'rEn' vEN'rrnnron ADJUSTMENT ron rNcUBAfrons applicati@ ined :rune 2s,

`This invention relatesto incubator's,l and like devices, and more especially to a novel ventilatingmeans therefor.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel Ventilating` means.l for admitting, exactly the proper volume of air to the incubator for 'ventilating the same during the incubation stages and assisting in maintaining the proper temperature Within the incubator, as well as to provide novel accusate, calibrated or` micrometer screw adjustment means for such ventilator.V While the invention is illustrated in the form of a slide, it is to be understood'that the novelty-and scope ,of the invention embodiesv V.the same principles irrespective of the manner of adjustmentof the sliding device controlling the ventilation. The-invention further contemplates a novellventilationmeans for thel bottom of the incubator which VIvhave found by .extensive practicalexperience serves .in thebest way to properly ventilate'the incubator and which inconjunction with the adjustableventilating device serves to give a scale or hmeans off determining a dependable and accurateadjustment through the floor.` of the incubator, which adjustmentcan lbe, minutely adjusted or regulated asv conditionsmay-dictate.

will vbe apparentas Other and further objects theinvention the description proceeds. ,j In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewl of an'incubator having a novel ventilating means vention.

. F gure and adjustment in accordancewith the in- 192'?.` Serial No. 202,041.

dial employed in connection therewith for accurately regulating the adjustment of the ventilation. i

Figure Gzis a' i vatlion taken on the line '6-6 of Figure 3, an

j Figure 7 isadetailed the adjustment block.V

i perspective view of Referring Vto the drawings, thenumeral vdesignates anincubator of any well known vor, preferred design but `particularly one having theisupporting legs 9 on which the incubator properis arranged, provided with the double walls 10 which may have an insulation fibreV or asbestos or other filling 11 therebetween, to which the legs 9 are secured. The heater isindicated at 12l halvingV a hood 13 and an automatic ,control 14 .for heating the incubator by circulating hot .water dry hot air or otherwise, suitable heating means extending into and communieating with the interior or incubation cham- `fragmentaryAl sectional ele- Y.,

ber from the hoodover the v`burner or lamp Y heater 12 `which sets on the burner base and fuel supply reservoir '15, which majT extend beneath the incubator as indicated at 16.

One or more sides of the incubator are provided with a hinged door 17 adapted to .sw-ing downwardly on thehinges V18 and held closed by acatch 19 engaging the upper '-section, vwhile the intermediate .section 20V may also f'hinge downwardly on the lower 'fixed section 21. The Vsection 21 is adapted to carry a` dial plate'or dial 23 of suitable .shape as shown secured in position by screws or other fastening means, 24 havingv an arrow25 indicating the normal position from which regulation or turning is gauged.

i The bottom of the Vincubator orY floor thereof, is designated at 26 and the sides 27 are 'preferably provided with an extension 28 at the juncture of the floor which are provided with tenons 29 which are received in groo or movable Vbottom or slide. 31.` The slide ves or mortises 30 of an adjustable is shorter or of less length than the width of the :bottom so as to allow a space, 32in -which -it may move and is provided with a series ofopenings of circular or othercrosssection as indicated at 33 corresponding with similar openings 34 in the bottom wall 26 and is adapted to be moved into and out of register therewith to any desired minute degree or entirely, according to the quantity or volume of air adapted to be permitted to enter the interior or incubation chamber of the incubator in a manner to be more fully described. The movable Ventilating section or slide member 31 is provided with a bottom strip 35 extending across the same and entering` a groove 36 in thebottom or floor 26 to permit free sliding without undue friction and to accurately guide the movable section or slide so that the openings 33 will at all times be maintained in alignment in rows, with respect to the corresponding rows of openings inthe floor 26. It also has one'end recessed as indicated at 37 and this end receives a block 38 having a threaded horizontal opening 39 therethrough of graduated double or minute pitch of micrometer effect, to give a prescribed movement of the slide for each partial turn of the adjusting screw 40 therein when engaged therewith. The screw 40 also extends through the upturned end 41 of the strip 35 which is bent up at right angles against the end of the block 38 as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 6 in the drawings and is secured therein by screws or the like 42 entering threaded openings 43 in the end of the metal or other block material. The opposite end of the block is provided with a Hat extension 44 having threaded openings 45 through which fastening screws or the like are inserted for securing the block to the strip or guide member 35, although the openings 45 may be left unthreaded and rivets or other suitable fastening means 46 permanently or detachably secured in position therein if desired. i

It will be seen that the screw 40 engages the threads of the block aperture 39 and the upturned end 41 threaded or unthreaded, the screw passing through the wall of the incubator at the stationary section 21, as indicated at 47 with suitable guiding means at the inside and being unthreaded at this portion if preferred while also having a flange or annular enlargement or collar 48 to prevent shifting of the screw in its bearing. A Vknurled head 49 is secured on the outer end of the screw as indicated at 50 and is provided with a seriesof numbers, preferably from 1 to 6 equally spaced apart,

as indicated at 51 to constitute a micrometer dial adjustment in connection with the arrow 25. The pitch of the screw is such that turning the screw through the medium of the lrnurled head 49 will secure afrknown adjustment of the movable member or slide 3l which adjustment may be made to efect a complete closing or opening'of the openings 33 with respect to the Ventilating openings 34 in the bottom of the floor of the 'incubator cabinet for each complete revolution of the dial, reversely. Thus, the calibrations on the knurled head combined with the arrow 25 will serve to insure positive and accurate adjustment of the ventilator openings with respect to each other so that by detern'iination, the calibrations or figures on the dial can be set to give a predetermined atmospheric condition within the incubator, assuming that the burner is set to furnish a predetermined degree ofheat, it being important to have the room well ventilated. Obviously, the atmospheric condition to be obtained may be indicated on the dial or knurled'head in lieu of numbers 1 to 6 as shown, so that the atmospheric condition for each adjustment may be seen at a glance instead of referring to a table to indicate the atmospheric condition resulting from the ventilation for each number indicated on the dial or lrnurled operating head. This of course, is controlled by the volume of air permitted to enter through the openings 33 and 34 when partially or entirely in alignment or registry. Obviously, the incubation is best carried yout by maintaining the temperature at a uniform degree, usually 98 at the bottom, 100 at the center and 103 degrees at the top. It may also be pointed out that the sliding connection between the movable member or slide regulator 31 and the bottom floor of the incubator is such as to maintain lthe slide in positive Contact with the floor so that the possibility of air entering the bottom registry is reduced to nil.

` vWhile I have described my invention in a particular form which I have found to be best suited for the purpose, it is to be understood that various changes in the arrange-,- ment and proportions of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and that in addition to the screw adjustment, preferably a: double pitch screw, any other suitable adjustment y means may be employed so long as the calii brated dial is set and. regulated to give a prescribed atmospheric condition for each adjustment, so that the adjustment and regulation of the ventilation is effectedto the minutest and most accurate degree. The result produced is better and a much higher percentage of hatchings in proportion to the number of eggs which are incubatedand a positive maintenance ofthe required 'atmospheric condition in th incubator and atemperature of 103degreessuch as would be produced by the hen When hatching.

Having thus described invention, what I claim is:

1. In a Ventilating adjustment for incubators, the combination with the Hoor of the incubatorhaving a series'of spaced openings therein adapted to admit unheated atmospheric air throughthe incubator chamber,

when the openings are out of a movable slide mounted on the floor and of less Width than the Hoor in the incubator chamber, said slide having openings there.- in adapted to be moved into and out of register Withl the openings in the floor, said slide having a recess, a block in the recess having a threaded opening, a bottom strip connected to the slide and to the block and operating in a groove across the bottom p in its top surface, a screw having a bearing in the front Wall of the incubator and held against movement therein,` said screw being threaded into the blo-ck and having a head externally of said Wall with calibrations thereon, and a pointer on said Wall cooperating with said calibrations.

2. In a Ventilating adjustment for incubators, the combination with the floor of the incubator having a series of spaced openings therein adapted to admit unheated atmospheric air through the incubator chamber, a movable slide mounted on the floor and of less Width than the floor in theincubator chamber, said slide having openings therein adapted to be moved into and out of register With 'the openings in the-floor, a

block on the slide having a lthreaded opening, a bottom strip connected to :the slide and to the block and operating in a groove across the bottom in its to surface, a screw having a bearingY in the ijront Wall of the vincubator and held against movement therein, said screw being threadedinto the block and having a head externally of said Wall with calibrations thereon, and a pointer on said wall cooperating with said calibrations.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

BENJAMIN F. C. MORRIS. 

